CLEVELAND, Ohio — In all probability, Antawn Jamison and Anthony Parker will be introduced as Cavaliers for the last time to fans at The Q on Wednesday night.

Jamison, 35, is headed to free agency. Parker, 36, is likely bound for retirement. But the lessons they have taught the Cavaliers’ youngsters about professionalism and dealing with adversity will endure for seasons to come. They have fulfilled one of the toughest tasks in pro sports: serving as veteran leaders on losing and rebuilding teams.

Many fans don’t want to hear about it — they want high draft picks to replace past-their-prime players — but coach Byron Scott and rookies Kyrie Irving and Tristan Thompson appreciate what Jamison and Parker did for them this season.

“This is one of the few places … never had to worry about the locker room with those guys,” Scott said. “They made sure that the young guys understood every day what we had to do.

“Even going through what we went through last year, those guys kept the locker room intact. Invaluable. If this is their last game here … I can’t say enough about both of those guys.”

Irving, the presumptive NBA rookie of the year, entered the league with Parker and Jamison in the locker room. Eight years earlier, LeBron James walked into the same room inhabited by Ricky Davis. The leadership on James’ first Cavs team (2003-04) was so bad they made a midseason deal to acquire Eric Williams, who became the team’s most respected voice five minutes after he arrived from Boston.

General Manager Chris Grant knew the importance of surrounding Irving and Thompson with the right veterans while not overpaying for them. It’s why he re-signed Parker for one season in December. At All-Star weekend in Orlando, the Cavaliers rookies — who participated in the skills competitions — were making unsolicited comments about the mentorship of Parker, Jamison and Anderson Varejao.

“[Jamison] has always had my back,” Irving said. “We are going to lose some games, but if you play hard every single time out you can look at yourself in the mirror and say you gave it your all. That’s what it is about.

“AP taught me how to be a professional and how to carry myself. He’s a really humble guy who I like to emulate.”

Parker has played through a painful season which saw him sidelined with back and sternum injuries. He’s averaged seven points in 25.4 minutes while committing just one turnover per game. The club obviously needs an upgrade at shooting guard, but Parker set a good example for his impressionable teammates.

“I’m a big believer in walking the walk before you talk the talk,” said Parker, the team’s union representative. “That saying actions speak louder than words is true. You can say whatever you want to say, but if somebody looks at you and you’re contradicting yourself with your actions …

“Every day Twan and I are the first ones on the court shooting. Those kind of things, just being consistent and being professional. Anyone can do it once or twice, but doing it over and over again is why guys have the longevity that they do.”

Jamison, a finalist for the NBA Sportsmanship Award, concedes a 40-106 record since the start of the 2010-11 season has taken its toll. He was billed as a get-over-the-hump piece when the Cavaliers acquired him near the end of the 2009-10 season. But after the club flamed out in the postseason and LeBron James left for Miami, Jamison was left to absorb two years of steady losing.

He entered last off-season unsure of his role. Jamison regretted how he handled his benching early in the 2010-11 season in favor of J.J. Hickson and vowed to help mentor Thompson regardless of his minutes.

In a condensed season when injury and fatigue have victimized many, the club’s second-oldest player has started in every game except one. Scott actually rested Jamison during the Cavs’ recent back-to-back-to-back games.

He leads the team in playing time (33.4 minutes) and ranks second in scoring (17.4 points). He relieved pressure from Irving by giving the Cavs’ a second legitimate scoring option. Jamison also was the club’s most outspoken player after losses, the veteran not afraid to chide the team for a lack of effort, focus or urgency.

“I always go back to when I was a rookie and I had guys to help me out,” Jamison said. “I realized the importance of that. When I came back and realized what we had and how the young guys were receptive to me and willing to learn and willing to be the best player they could possibly be, it just made it easier for me.”

Even as both Parker and Jamison prepare to say goodbye to the organization, they plan to follow the progress of the young players who looked to them under trying circumstances.

“I’m anxious to see the next 4-5 years how things turn out with Kyrie and Tristan,” Jamison said. “Hopefully I had an impact as far as teaching them some things on and off the court, how to do things the right way and going out there and competing for 48 minutes.”

Dribbles: Cavs did not practice on Tuesday. … Irving has been named Sporting News Rookie of the Year. … Varejao ranked as the ninth dirtiest player in NBA, according to an Sports Illustrated poll. SI polled 146 players who were not able to vote for teammates. The Los Angles Clippers’ Reggie Evans was voted the dirtiest player.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Seven days ago, Kyrie Irving was basking in the afterglow of a breakout performance at All-Star Weekend and the Cavaliers were readying for a playoff push that included games against the two teams directly ahead of them in the standings.

This morning, a run-down Irving is trying to regain his health after taking ill last week and his teammates are dressing their wounds from four straight losses to Eastern Conference opponents.

How have the Cavaliers’ fortunes swung so dramatically? There are multiple factors to consider as they carry a season-long, five-game losing streak into Monday’s game against Utah at The Q.

• Deficiencies the Cavaliers have overcome all season are catching up to them.

• The impact of Anderson Varejao’s absence is growing.

• And veteran teams are focusing on their postseason runs and Irving and the Cavaliers no longer are sneaking up on opponents.

Here’s the anatomy of a losing streak.

Too much from too few: Nobody would ever consider dubbing Irving and Antawn Jamison the Big Two. But the Cavaliers remain almost totally reliant on them for offense. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Cleveland has the second-largest gap in the league between their second (Jamison) and third-leading (Varejao) scorers at 6.6 points.

Small forward Alonzo Gee, inserted into the starting lineup Saturday, and backup point guard Ramon Sessions are the closest thing to alternative options.

The Cavaliers’ 101-98 loss to Washington was just the latest example of how much they depend on the 35-year-old Jamison, averaging 17.4 points. Coach Byron Scott played him 38-plus minutes on the second night of a back-to-back out of necessity.

With Irving ailing, the coach tried to give the power forward about six minutes of rest to open the fourth quarter, but after going scoreless in the first four minutes, he summoned Jamison. The 13-year veteran was held scoreless down the stretch of a game in which he scored 29 points.

Irving, averaging 18.5 points, could have used the four-day respite during All-Star Weekend, but he competed in the Rising Stars Challenge and skills competition.

Varejao factor: When Varejao was not selected as an All-Star reserve, he comforted himself with the fact the Cavaliers were in the playoff hunt. A day later the Brazilian center fractured his wrist. His loss — the Cavaliers are 3-8 without him — is becoming more glaring by the game.

The Cavaliers allowed 100 points or more seven times in their first 24 games, averaging 96.9 points. In the past 11 games, opponents have scored at least 100 on six occasions and averaged 101.6. Think of how many times in the past few weeks opponents have tallied second-chance buckets while their guards have blown through the lane for uncontested layups.

Varejao is averaging 10.8 points, but that total doesn’t necessarily reflect how many possessions he keeps alive with offensive rebounds, tips and hustle plays. Meanwhile, Scott is not satisfied with any of his veteran big-man options — he moved Ryan Hollins into the starting lineup — and is playing rookie power forward Tristan Thompson out of position for long stretches.

The club hopes Varejao can return for the final 25 games, but it could be too late for the playoff run Varejao so desired.

No lead safe: With little more than 16 minutes remaining, the Cavaliers held an eight-point lead Saturday night against an the Wizards, an opponent winless in its previous six games.

Early in the season, the Cavaliers were good at protecting second-half advantages. At the All-Star break they were 9-3 in games in which they led or were tied at halftime and 11-1 in games in which they led or were tied after three quarters.

They lost three such games last week, giving back a 12-point halftime advantage in New York. The Cavaliers are not just squandering leads, but doing so in rapid fashion. The cushion in New York was gone in a matter of minutes. Same for the one in Washington. Rarely are they getting a second-chance basket or 3-point bucket to stifle an opponent’s momentum.

What to do at the two? Shooting guards Anthony Parker and Daniel Gibson were a combined 1-of-10 against the Wizards. Parker, playing through back problems, missed his second potential game-tying, 3-point shot in a week.

The Cavs need a major upgrade at this position, along with small forward, next season. Scott is playing Irving and Sessions together with increasing frequency trying to generate offense.

Why not offer youngster Manny Harris some meaningful minutes? He never left the bench against the Wizards a day after Scott said he wanted to give Harris more playing time.If you consider yourself in the playoff race, every option needs to be exhausted.

The cream rises: The lockout is a distant memory. Veteran players are fit and focused; veteran teams are engaged and gearing up for the playoffs. The Cavs witnessed it this week with Boston, New York and Chicago.

The Cavaliers caught some teams by surprise with how hard they play early in the season. That’s not going to be the case from now until April 26. Good teams shift to another gear at this time of season. Do the Cavaliers have another gear left?

“After the All-Star break is over, teams do come back and try to ramp it up,” Scott said. “A lot of guys come back rejuvenated and ready to go and we tried to relay that message to our guys. I understand how young we are, but you want to at least imprint that in their minds.

“We haven’t had the start we wanted out of the break … and we have to start playing at both ends of the floor if we have a chance for that seventh or eighth spot.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Cavaliers coach Byron Scott got the quick start he desired with the lineup changes made Saturday night at the Verizon Center.

But it was the five players Scott had on the floor early in the fourth quarter that became the story of their latest loss, a 101-98 setback to the Washington Wizards. The combination of Anthony Parker, Ramon Sessions, Daniel Gibson, Omri Casspi and Ryan Hollins generated no offense against an opponent that had dropped six straight games and rolls out of bed surrendering 100 points.

The Cavaliers missed seven consecutive shots to open the quarter and went scoreless for the first 4:13 while Wizards also fumbled for offense. The result is Scott had to return a fatigued Antawn Jamison and an ailing Kyrie Irving earlier than desired.

While Irving responded with 12 points down the stretch, the Cavaliers could not slow Jordan Crawford and John Wall enough to avoid a season-high fifth straight loss. For the second time this week, Parker had a chance to tie it in the waning seconds but missed a 3-point attempt.

“Our second unit couldn’t get anything going offensively and their second unit was terrific and I think that was the difference in the game,” Scott said. “As much as I wanted to give AJ [Jamison] more rest I looked up and said there is no way possible I could keep him on the bench any longer. … I know he’s playing a ton of minutes … but it’s out of necessity.”

The 35-year-old Jamison played 38-plus minutes on the second night of a back-to-back. He finished with 29 points on 11-of-24 shooting and seven rebounds, but was held scoreless in the final 8:29.

Irving added 20 points, while the two new starters, Ryan Hollins (15 points, seven rebounds) and Alonzo Gee (11 points, five rebounds) also were effective.

It was a quiet losers’ locker room as the Cavaliers — who began the week with legitimate playoff aspirations — spoke of finding ways out of their funk. Yes, they have lost to likely postseason participants Boston, New York and Chicago in this stretch. But they also have fallen to New Orleans (9-28) and Washington (8-20).

The Wizards had allowed 13 of their previous 14 opponents to reach the 100-point mark. The Cavaliers appeared as though they would add to the list midway through the third quarter with a 72-64 lead. But they committed three turnovers in the final four-plus minutes as Crawford (31 points) and Wall (24) rallied the Wizards.

In an eight-minute stretch that spanned the final two quarters the Cavaliers were outscored, 18-6.

“A turnover here, not getting back there, those are the things that are killing us,” Jamison said. “We have to find a way to put games away and make it difficult for our opponents.

“You would think there would be a sense of urgency to start the fourth quarter. I don’t know if it’s being tired, but we have to come with a sense of urgency to get a win. We can’t let this drag out.”

The Wizards led by 10 points with 3:44 left, but Irving gave his team hope despite playing at what Scott guessed was “about 75 or 80 percent.” Irving said his body ached on Friday as he sat out the loss to Chicago and that he was just “starting to get my legs back under me.”

Both Jamison and Gee took ill-advised 3-pointers in the final minutes, yet the Cavs still had a chance in the final seconds. Scott said Parker was the second option on the final shot but they couldn’t get the ball to Irving.

Scott benched Semih Erden in favor of Hollins, who had a season-high in points. Gee started in favor of Omri Casspi, who contributed just three points in nine-plus minutes.